Couch hammock



H. NHNTZ.

COUCH HAMMOCK.'

ArPucATloN men APR. 23, 1921.

Patented May 2,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET| UNITED areTil;seinem?breienA HARRY ivi-manor Bosron, MiissAoirUsnTTsf v To @ZZ whom it may concern j i' a Be it known thatvl, HARRY lIiN'rZ, citizen of the United States of America, and'resident of Boston, in the county oi Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new yand useful improvements in AC ouclijHanr mocks, of which the following is a speci'- iication. Y

This invention relates to hammocks and more particularly totliat type of 'hammock commonly called coucli or `.Grloucester'f hammocks comprising essentially. 'a rigid springcarrying seat frameadapted to Stipport a lmattress or cushion, end and jbaek members of canvas orother suitabletextile material and flexible suspension orsupporting members.A Y Y Hammocks of `this' type which, as is well known? were originally adapted aiidintended v and which has 'customarily beenvcareifully planned, often at large expense,V to produce an artistic elfect otwhich the furnishings form an essential element.

It is the' object of this invention to" provide a hammock primarily intendedl for use under `these conditionsoit service and to thatend so constructed asy to permit the riabric portions thereof to be made of any material desired by the user, or whichV they particular environment may .require,at the same time embody-ing meansvand particu'- larlyl an arm rest of novel constrnction which arebotli conduciveto the comfort .of the user and adapted to enhance the decorative effect and general visual appearance of the'device.

As ak preferred embodiment 'of means for carrying the' invention into effect, that shown in they annexed drawingsmaybe employed 'Fig 1 is van end elevation vof-al-hainmoek embodying thepresent invention;

specification of Lettersratet. A yiippiicaaoi'i inea April 23,1921. semi No. .lieissia but to larger scale.

ceneri .naivrivroe'ig a liiateiitefi May 12, ieee.

dug.- 2Uis a, transverse vertical cross .sec-y tion on .the `line '2 2 oit Fig.v 1 ,fto greatly enlarged scale;, V i

ci Fig.A ltaken on ai plane justjwithinfthe 1 Fig.A 3 is a cross section .of the device l windshield member .and looking` yin' a direction'opposite to Fig.` l

V Fig. i is aVV horizont-al cross section.throughv glie' windshield member'f on a line. such .as fl-,Fig3; -4

ginge is@ yiewimii jr t@l rig. bunnies. trating a inodilicati011,;` andV A Fig. 6 is 'a i cross ,section on theV of Fig. 5 throng` thev windshieldmember' "Referring to Figs.- to:

i ..70` eiii'icliisive,l a inat-y `trees supporting frame of usualconstruction is indicated as-coniprisint; front and rear rails I, 2, respectively, and side or Vend rails suchas 3. The front vand rear yrails -iiiav if desired be of tubular construction. but it is preferredto form the end .rails as anglehars,

indicated iii rig. 2p

This frame ser-ves for. the tress or otliergsuitable cushioning means,

Extending upwardlyifrom theV frameftliere maybe provided'l aback rest G of usualfconf struction, suclibackvrest lgiein'gjcusliioned vor upholstered if Adesired and being4 secured tov the frame r'bynieans .of vlinks 7 1.engaging brackets 8 secured tothe endineinbers oli' the. framej the exact arrangement. aiidinode Y ever l yof connection oftheback rest .beinghow no part. of the present invention. At 9}is}indica.ted one ot' a pair-ot flexible snpportiii riembers, herein .illustratefl as chains, which may dependv 'from suitably elevated support; .At their lower lendstliese supporting.r members are preferably providediwithenlarged links or ringsl() to support of `inatwhich aresecured chains such as lli. the

lopposite ends of which `are connectedto the back .rest whereby .to retain the latterin proper position. From'therings 10 also depend. pairs otisuspension memberspsuch ,as the jchains 12,13, the lower endsof ysuch chains being; secured-as 'by means of-.bolts l4, 1 5,respectively,'totliervend bars 3 of the frame;` The frame is thus directlyfsup.-

portedby the suspension devices comprising ythe cliains-l2, 13. In accord-ance with/.faJ a preferred arrangement, the `chains 12,' at points at -a proper distance aboye the cushion 5, Abut preferably below the upper. edge` of 17 of S form, or with other suit-ablemeans,

v whereby an intermediate portion 18 of the it maybe of the same diameter if desired,

it being essential, however, that the S links be yof substantially greater width than the diameter of such intermediate section 18. At each end of the hammock there is provided a bar 19 constituting an arm rest, su'ch lbar being provided with vertical openings 20, 21, adjacent its extremities. Preferably such openings are spaced inwardly from the extremities of the bar and are of a diameter to permit the free passage of the intermediate portion '18 of the chain therethrough.

If desired the upper surface of the bar 19 bet'weenthe openings 20, 21 may be provided with a curved surface preferably Y downwardly concave as indicated at 22,such

surface serving as the supporting element of the arm rest and being so curved asto conform more or less closely to the shape of the arm of the user.

In connection with this armrest there is provided a windshield, preferably compris ing apiece of sheet material, such as a textile fabric, which is folded adjacent its central portion, the parallelly arranged meme bers 26, 27 thus formed being unitedin any suitable manner as for example, by one or more rows of stitches 24, whereby to form a tunnel or hem 25 into which the bar 19 may be'freely slipped. With this Larrangement it is evident that the parallel members v26, 27,V of the windshield thus depend from the bar 19 andupon opposite 'sides of theplane of the suspension members 12, 13, and in accordance with a preferred arrangement the plies 26, 27 of the material are secured together as by the vertically extending lines of stitches 28, 29, 28a, 29, to form the tunnelsor Apassages 30, 30a, respectively. The tunnels 30, 30a so formedV constitute convenient means for the reception of such suspensionelements, which are thus concealed from view, either from the inside oroutside of the hammock, and which are thus provided with a protecting covering which serves to prevent injury to the hands or arms of the user'by contact with such suspension devices.

The inner wall 27 of the windshield as thus formed may at its lower edge be provided with a hem, formed'by a line of stitches 31, and Within such hem there is inserted a substantially rigid bar 32 of a length sutlicient' to extend beyond the suspension elements 12, 13. By this arrangement the lower portion of the curtain 27 is prevented from bulging out between lthe. suspension elements under pressure vagainst the saine from Within the hammock. Y The bar 32 is arranged at a point such that vit lies between the end of the cushion or mattress and the suspension elements, being thus concealed from view. rfhe outer curtain 26 of theV windshield device may, if desired, be eX- tended downwardly below the frameto provide ka flap or valance33 which serves to conceal the end of the frame and to give an ornamental appearance to the hammock.

In the ordinary use of the device asthus described, the bar 19 having been inserted in the tunnel of the windshield, the suspension members 12, 13 are passedthrough the tunnels a, 30 respectively, the intermediate portion 18 of such suspension members passing up through the openings 20, 21, in the bar 19 and being connected to the S links 16. As thus arrangedthe bar rests upon the 8 links 17 which' are of a width sufficient to prevent their passage through the openings 20, 21, and thehammockwith its windshield and arm rest is ready for use. TheV direction of the suspension members 12, 13, which diverge from the ring 10 is materially changed at the point where they enter the openings 20, 21, in the bar 19, such bar serving not only as'an arm rest but as a spacer member for such suspension elements.

.It is thus clear that said elementsl bear with considerable friction against the inner walls of the openings 20, 21, and this 'friction is ordinarily sufficient to'maintain the bar 19 in adjusted position above the S links 17 if it be desired, to raise the bar to a`height greater than that provided byy such links. `While as herein disclosed the intermediate portion 18 of the chain is relatively short, it is evident that such portion might be made longer if desired, thus permitting a greater range of vertical adjustment of the arm rest bar 19. This arrangement is very convenient in permitting the useof the hammock by persons. of different heights and isalso found to be desirable in permitting the rais ing of the windshield toa more elevated position when the hammock is to be used as a i'io couch andin which case it may be desirable to have the windshieldv approach in height that of the back rest 6. -By supportingrthe windshield upon the adjustable arm rest it is clear that such shield is adjusted bodily with the arm rest, and as the lower endsV of such windshield are both free from attach-v ment, it is clear that such adjustment mayV readily take place while at the safinetime permitting the end of the hammock to ber fully closed in `all posit-ions vof 'adjustment of the arm rest. n, l

If it be found in the use ofthe device that the friction between the suspension members 12, 13, and the bar 19 is insuflicient to retain the latter in the desired position of adjustment, it is ,clearly evident thatj` bolts or other-suitable stop members may be inserted in the chain linksat desiredpoints i the chainffor the' removal of the `arm rest,

1,414,432 y Y B` for retainingthearm in theV desired position.

It is'a'lsocl'earthatso'faras` the adjustment ofthe arm restis concerned, it isv unnecessary toemploy linkslof l55 `form or 4other means 'permitting 'the detachment of Athe intermediate section 18 of the chain, as any type of'stop means, such as a 'ring or transversely yextending' bolt, might serve equally for such purpose. The lemployment of l S links isl however, desirable in permitting the detaching lof the intermediate section 18 of bar 19 ifdesired'.v By removing such bar it is clear .that thewindshield may be detached andthatvupon replacement of the bar the hammock may be used with Athe larm rest but' 'without the windshield, which may be desirable in fsome cases, as for 'example in extremely :hot weather. It is also clearlthat both windshieldvv and .arm .restmay' 'be removed-if desired. f

Referringfto Figs. 5 .and 6, vthesupporting frame is indicated ias' provided with transversememberssuch .as 1a and with: end Y members such as 3, such frame supporting a cushion-ormattress 5a. lThe back rest is indicated Vat 6EL and one of the main-supporting chains at 9s. At 10a is indicated' a ring at4V the lower end of' such supporting chain to which is connected the chain 11@ which serves .to support thebackzrest. To 'such vring 10a are .also secured the chains 121, 13a, which are secured .at their lower ends to the end'member 3a of the iframe by means of/bolts'14a, 15?, respectively. `Inthis case the suspension chains 12a,13a. are'shown as provided' with but one S link indicated at 16a, such link'beingiat apoint somewhat be.- low or? substantially in the planeof thelupper' edgeof the back rest 6% At .a .l con- .venient point abovethe .mattressl 5EL there is 'provided a bar-40 secured adjacent its op#V lpositeends to the respective chains 12a, 13a, as by means of bolts 4such as 41u The bar 42 .is inserted within. a fold or hem `vin aftwo p ply windshield,"suchfold being secured by j means of a line of stitches'43 and the two plies 44, 45 of such windshield depend from the bar 4() and are preferably arranged to lie inside the plane of thechains 12a, 13?. The windshield comprising the elements 44,

45 extends downwardly to the plane of the frame, where it is provided with a hem 47 secured by a line of stitches 46. Within the hem 47 there is inserted a bary 48 having openings for the reception of the securing bolts 14, 15a, by means of which the chains 12, 13a are attached to the end member B22 of the frame. The outer ply 44 of the `windshield may if desired be continued downwardly to form the flap 49 which serves to conceal the frame and to give an ornamental appearance to thehammock. An arm rest bar 50 is also provided, such bar having` openings 51, 52, respectively, adjacent its op- While in;` general the device dis-A posite endsthrough.v which freely .passv thev chains 12, 132L respectively.. The'bar50 may rest normally upon the bar L10,;being ar- 'rangedbetween such bar and `the AS links 16a, but as inthe arrangement previously 7 described, such bar maybe adjusted' within j 1 theflimits prescribed by the bar 40 and such Slinks whereby to changeitsrvertical-posi-y tion asrespects the'ma'ttr'ss. The bar-50 is preferably :formed: with-a ycurved armfengagingsurfacef and may'be'covered as indicated at 54 with a suitable material such as textilef'fabric. 1, v f

-With the arrangement last described it is clearthat'whil'e-the armrest may be ad- 80 j usted vertically, the windshield is .incapable of such adjustment, and w-hilelthis arrange' ment maybe desirable under 'certaincircumstances, the preferred form `is-:tha't shown j in `Figsplto 4VY in which the windshield and 85 arm'frest are simultaneously adjustable.

It will be understood that while the s-usf pension elements havel herein vbeen illus-l trated1as .comprising linked chains, .other suitable means for suspending :the frame y may be .employed anditfis to be'noted that inboth the yarrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 5 themattress supporting frame` upon which the-weight of the. occupant rests is supported directlyv by meansgof the rela 975 i tively strongfsuspension elements 12, 13, and that the 'windshield need not -be of. amate@ rial strong enough to support suchl weight.

VIn fact, with this Varrangement it is ,possible to employrelatively thin andlight mate! 1400 .rial'for the windshield,- thus permitting the use of-ornamental fabrics, if desired, which cou-ld notvwell be employed -were they called upon to support the weightzof lthe hammock and ,its occupant. 105

closed asapplied-to 'one end only of a ham* mock it is obvious that the same structure isemployed at bothtends-oflthe hammock althoughV it is evident that thewindshield .and arm rest may be omitted or removed' t lfrom one end without referencetogthe pres:

ence off. such devices vat the other end ofthe device. i 'i Iclaim:V j

1. A'hammock comprising a seat frame, spaced flexible supports therefor, and an arm rest having elements slidably and frictionally engaging the Vrespective supports whereby said arm restV may be adjusted along l iov Vspaced ynormally converging flexible sup@ ports therefor, and a combined arm rest and spreader disposed between saidsupports to spread them apart-and having openings adr jacent its ends adapted to receive said supports, whereby said arm rest andspreader is adjustable on said supports and is supported in adjusted position solely by frictional engagementl with said supports.

' 4. A hammock comprising a pair of normally converging and flexible suspension de7 vices, a bar having spaced elements for engagement by the respective suspension devices whereby to maintain the latter in spaced relation, and spaced stop `members carried by each of said suspension devices and varranged respectivelyv above and below said bar.

5. -A hammock comprising a seat frame, spaced normally converging flexible supports therefor, and a combined arm rest and spreader disposed between said supports to spread them apart and having openings adjacent its ends adapted to receive 'said sup.'- ports, whereby said arm rest and spreader is adjustable on said supports and is supf ported in adjusted position solely by frictional engagement with said supports, and a `fabric strip depending from said arm rest and substantially lling'the space between v 'saidarm rest and said seat frame.

6. A device of the class described having a pair of'spaced, normally converging flexible'suspension devices, a combined arm rest and spreader bar of substantial width engaging the respective suspension'devices and serving to spread them apart, and a'wind shield comprising a piece of sheet material having its central portion overlying, the barV whereby to provide members depending from the vbar for enclosing and concealing the lower portions of said suspension devices. 7. A hammock comprising a pair of sus- Y pension members-an end member comprising a bar having elements engaging said suspension members, Vand a strip of fabric se-V cured to said barand Vproviding, members depending from said bar and arranged upon limiting stops therefor.

opposite sides of said suspensionmembers, one of said fabric members terminating in a ,free end and theotherof said members having a-pocket and a bar in said pocket.

8. A hammock comprising a yseat frame, spaced normally converging vflexible supoortsthereiior :and a combinedarm rest and i spreaderV disposed between said supportsto 'spread them apart, said arm rest lbeing formed with substantially straight end porson which the walls of said openings frictionally A Y engage, means for positively'limiting movement of ysaid arm rest relatively to said sup? ports, and a wind shield depending from said armrest.Y

10. A couch hammock having a supportingfframe provided with end members, ya

pair of chains having their lower extremities secured .adjacent the ends of one of lsaid members respectively, andaspacer bar eX.-

tending between said chains and provided with 'apertures :for the free passage of the chains therethrough, said chains `each comprising enlargedlinks arranged above and below said bar respectively and constituting j l l1. A couchhammockhavin'g a vpairy of suspension chains, anda spacer' bartherefor provided with spaced openings of a diameter to permit of thefree passage yof the respective chains therethrough, vsaid chains having S links interposed therein at points adjacent said bar,y said linksbeingof a size to preventtheirpassage.through said openings.j Signedbyj me at Boston, Massachusetts. this 22nd day'of April, 1921. v

, y 'HARRY MINTZ." 

